How Do You Explain Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis To A Child?
A diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can be confusing and frightening for a child. The name alone is intimidating. You can help a child cope with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis by explaining the illness and how it will affect daily life. Animate the explanation. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis involves the body’s immune system. The body sends its soldiers to the joints looking for an infection to fight, but the soldiers can’t find anything. They stay in the joints, which become red and swollen. This causes the symptoms of stiff joints, weak muscles and tiredness. Describe what to expect in the long run. Use terms the doctors use and define the terms with plain words. The child should expect periods of remission. This means symptoms get better or go away. The child should also expect exacerbations or flare ups. These are times when the symptoms will be worse. These flare ups and remissions could go on for as long as ten years. Preempt blame. It’s natural for a child to want to plac
